Matz to replace Cohen as economic development czar

Everyone at City Hall knew it was coming; it was just a question of when. Mayor Gavin Newsom on Monday named Jennifer Entine Matz as the new director of the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, replacing Michael Cohen, who announced two weeks ago he is stepping down after 15 years in city government.

Mayor’s Office

Matz to take over.

Matz, the office’s managing deputy director for the last five years, will take the reins when Cohen leaves on Sept. 30.

She inherits a department central to projects ranging from revitalizing the Mid-Market area to redeveloping former naval bases at Hunters Point and Treasure Island to formulating the city’s bid to host the America’s Cup regatta in 2013 or 2014.

“It’s a challenging economic time, but it’s a pretty exciting time when you look at the projects you have in the pipeline,” Matz said.

Matz earlier worked as a legislative aide to Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier. She was also a political strategist for Staton & Hughes and an associate attorney for Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP and Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Francisco.